Oscarline Onwuemenyi
08 September 2016, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Nigerian Army announced on Wednesday that its troops of 4 Brigade have arrested a suspected national economy saboteur, one Mr. Gabriel Ogbudje (an Ex-militant leader), also the alleged leader of the “Otugas Fire Force”, a militant group threatening to attack Utorogu Gas Plant.
He was alleged to be responsible for the recent act of economic sabotage perpetrated on NPDC/Shoreline major delivery trunk line within Ogo-Oteri general area on the 26th of last month.
A statement from Army Headquarters signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, noted that “The suspected militant who was trailed, was arrested by troops along Agbor-Abraka road, Edo State on Tuesday 6th September 2016.
“He has been on the run since he was declared wanted because of his public declaration as the leader of the militant group ‘Otugas Fire Force’.
“And his subsequent declaration of the threat code named ‘Crocodile Tears’, which was published by the Vanguard and Thisday newspapers on 31st August 2016, while the Brigade was engaged in the military field training exercise nicknamed “Operation Crocodile Smile”.
The statement said, “Gabriel was arrested along with his accomplice, Mr. Elvis Dweller Ejus. Both suspects were handed to Operation DELTA SAFE for further interrogation and subsequent handing over to the relevant security agency for prosecutions.
“Please recall also that troops of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army in conjunction with Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Air Force and covert operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency, arrested a suspected kingpin of the Niger Delta Avengers, Isaac Romeo, that goes by the appellation of “G2″ in their terrorist camp,” Usman said.
The statement added that “He was arrested along with two other persons; Mr. Lawson Samson and an elderly man, Mr. Iyang Ekpo in Calabar, Cross State while in a vehicle with registration number, CRS 86 AO1 on Saturday, 3rd September 2016.
“The arrest followed painstaking efforts and tracking of the militant who was in the state to perpetrate further criminal activities of sabotaging critical infrastructures”.
“All the suspects are currently being interrogated”, the statement added.
